Help ImproveYour Cholesterol Numbers

If you have questions,please call 1-800-441-4987

Improving your cholesterol isn’t easy,
but NIASPAN® can help.

When a low-cholesterol diet and exercise alone are not
enough, NIASPAN is a prescription medication used along
with a low-cholesterol diet to raise HDL ("good")
cholesterol and lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol and
triglycerides in people with abnormal cholesterol levels.

Safety Considerations

NIASPAN is not for people with liver problems, stomachulcers, serious bleeding problems, or those allergic to any
product ingredient.

Important Safety Information and Uses You Should Know About
NIASPAN®(niacin extended-release) tablets

USES for NIASPAN (niacin extended-release) tablets

NIASPAN® (niacin extended-release) tablets are a prescription medication used along with diet when a low-cholesterol diet and exercise alone are not enough.

NIASPAN is also used to lower the risk of heart attack in people who have had a heart attack and have high cholesterol.

In people with coronary artery disease and high cholesterol levels, NIASPAN, when used with a bile acid-binding resin (another cholesterol medicine), can slow down or lessen the buildup of plaque (fatty deposits) in your arteries.

NIASPAN can be used in combination with lovastatin or simvastatin to improve abnormal cholesterol levels when taking NIASPAN, simvastatin, or lovastatin alone is not enough.

No additional benefit of NIASPAN on heart disease has been demonstrated when used with simvastatin or lovastatin over and above that shown for niacin, simvastatin, or lovastatin alone.

In people with heart problems and well-controlled cholesterol, taking NIASPAN with another cholesterol-lowering medicine (simvastatin) has not been shown to reduce heart attacks or strokes more than taking simvastatin alone.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for NIASPAN

NIASPAN is not for people with liver problems, stomach ulcers, serious bleeding problems, or those allergic to any product ingredient.

Severe liver damage has occurred when switching to a long-acting niacin (NIASPAN) from immediate-release niacin. Do not switch between forms of niacin without talking to your healthcare provider.

Tell your healthcare provider about any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, as this could be a sign of a serious side effect. This risk increases when NIASPAN is taken with a statin, particularly in the elderly, diabetics, and those with kidney or thyroid problems.

NIASPAN should be used with caution if you consume large amounts of alcohol and/or have a past history of liver disease.

Your healthcare provider should do blood tests before and during treatment to check liver enzyme levels, as these can increase with treatment.

NIASPAN can cause an increase in blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar levels more frequently during the first few months or with NIASPAN dose changes.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have kidney problems or a history of gout. NIASPAN can cause an increase in uric acid levels.

The most common side effects with NIASPAN are flushing, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, increased cough, and itching.

Flushing (warmth, redness, itching, and/or tingling of the skin) is a common side effect of NIASPAN therapy. It may vary in severity and is more likely to happen when starting NIASPAN or during dose increases. Flushing may get better after several weeks of consistent NIASPAN use. Talk to your doctor about how the symptoms of flushing are different from symptoms of a heart attack. By dosing at bedtime, flushing will likely occur during sleep. If awakened by flushing, get up slowly, especially if feeling dizzy or faint, or taking blood pressure medications.

If you are taking another cholesterol medication called a bile acid-binding resin (e.g., colestipol, cholestyramine) along with NIASPAN, take these medicines at least 4 to 6 hours apart.

Some medicines should not be taken with NIASPAN. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including aspirin, any cholesterol medication, blood pressure medication, or blood thinner medication, or any products containing niacin or nicotinamide.